Writing Sermons in an Oral Style
The rhetorician James Winans once wrote, "A speech is not merely an essay standing on its hind legs." Yet many speakers—including preachers—write their messages in a style better suited for reading rather than hearing. To be an effective oral communicator, one must learn to write for the ear, not the eye.
January 1, 2006
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25 min listen
Vertical Habits: Missional Churches at Worship
In this workshop for new and emerging, as well as established and evolving congregations, we explored how new Christians and young children learn to relate to God, and what this teaches us about our practices of weekly congregational worship. The workshop featured insights from a number of congregations involved in a new Vertical Habits program hosted by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.
Planning Great High School Chapels
As Christian school families are learning from their kids and grand kids, high school chapel services are a lot different than they used to be--and often more appreciated as well. A feature story exploring high school chapels.
December 23, 2005
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7 min read
The Emerging Church: A Guide for the Perplexed
The growing attention paid to the "emerging church" has certainly got people talking. And whatever the "emerging church" is, it seems to be quite a chameleon.
October 16, 2005
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1 min read
Korean American Churches: From generation to generation
Why do so many Koreans convert to Christianity? And why is it so difficult to pass on this faith to children and grandchildren? A feature story exploring Korean American churches and how their faith is passed down from generation to generation.
July 5, 2005
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11 min read
God Is Sovereign - Ephesians 1
A service plan for October leading up to Reformation Day focused on the Sovereignty of God in a four-week series on truths from the Reformation.
June 1, 2005
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14 min read
Our Beliefs - 2 Timothy 3, 2 Peter 1, Acts 10
A service plan exploring the paradox that Christians believe the Bible provides unchanging truth for all times. On the other hand, we need to reexamine our understanding of God's truth from time to time. Part of a series of sermons pairing together some of the seemingly irreconcilable paradoxes in the Christian faith.
June 1, 2005
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14 min read
Beatitudes Series: Blessed Are the Reviled - Isaiah 51, Matthew 5, 13
A service plan focused on the Beatitudes and the blessing on those who are reviled in this world in a series on the Beatitudes.
June 1, 2005
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1 min read
The Community with a Story of Faithfulness - Celebrating a Congregational Anniversary - Psalm 78
A sample church anniversary service based on Psalm 78. The service includes a rehearsal of the story, a recollection and reminder of God's guidance, expressions of thanks and praise, and a commitment to continue faithfully into the future.
June 1, 2005
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14 min read
The Community of Grace - 1 Peter
A service plan from the Apostles' Creed focused on the united Body of Christ found in the Christian Church and the forgiveness of sins in a series on the Apostles' Creed as explained in the Heidelberg Catechism.
June 1, 2005
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11 min read
Beatitudes Series: Blessed Are They Who Mourn - Isaiah 40, Matthew 5, Luke 7
A service plan focused on the Beatitudes and the blessing on those who mourn in a series on the Beatitudes.
June 1, 2005
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1 min read
It's a Good Thing He Left - John 16
A service plan from the Apostles' Creed focused on Christ's Ascension into heaven and how that benefits Christians in a series on the Apostles' Creed as explained in the Heidelberg Catechism.
June 1, 2005
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8 min read
